Above the Great Dao

"The reason Chen Shi stayed behind to exchange a few pleasantries with me was simply to see me make a fool of myself. But how could I let him have his way?"

The Grand Sacrificer grabbed his right wrist with his left hand, suppressing the piercing pain with sheer will, and his face twisted with agony, thinking, "I must hold on until he leaves!"

After Chen Shi left the Divine Capital, he suddenly stumbled, his legs going weak, and hurriedly steadied himself, feeling the muscles in his legs still sore and trembling.

Just now, he deliberately provoked the Grand Sacrificer, taking a huge risk. The Grand Sacrificer's strength was unfathomable, far beyond what he could match, and his aura was so strong it nearly suffocated him.

And the shadows of his childhood constantly loomed over him, making him occasionally recall the gripping pain in his heart.

But the oppression from the Grand Sacrificer came even more so during the eight years after his death.

At that time, the Grand Sacrificer constantly threatened him with the lives of him and his mother, Wu Qingyu.

When facing the Grand Sacrificer, he had to overcome this fear and exert his Daoist Skills to the fullest.

"I did it."

Chen Shi steadied his mind, smiled slightly, and murmured, "And I secretly plotted against him. The Grand Sacrificer is not invincible."

He laughed heartily and floated away, "Grand Sacrificer, the hatred of the gripping heart will be avenged in the future!"

In the Divine Capital, the Grand Sacrificer suppressed his injuries, suddenly realizing it had become much quieter outside.

The Divine Capital used to be very noisy because too many demons lived here, each harboring a demonic nature hard to tame. Clashes occurred from time to time, sometimes disasters unfolded that were hard to suppress. If an ordinary cultivator came to the Divine Capital, they would feel their head was filled with myriad voices—the thoughts of demons, disasters, and calamities.

But now, the Divine Capital had suddenly quieted down.

"Chu Feng, go outside and see what's happening," ordered the Grand Sacrificer.

Chu Feng complied, leaving the residence. After a moment, the young man returned to report, "Master, there are significantly fewer people in the city!"

"Fewer people?"

The Grand Sacrificer was alarmed, hurried out of the residence, and saw that there were still many demons on the streets of the Divine Capital, but the disasters and calamities had diminished by more than half!

The remaining disasters and calamities also averted their gazes, not meeting his eyes.

The Grand Sacrificer frowned slightly and asked a Daoist, "Friend Tianyou, where have the other friends gone?"

That Daoist was originally a Heavenly Master from the Heavenly Master Mansion, extraordinarily gifted. Later, upon comprehending the mysteries of becoming an immortal, he realized that Harmonization would inevitably lead to Demon Transformation. For the sake of longevity, he had no choice but to undergo Demon Transformation, yet he fought hard to retain his reason, eventually banishing himself to the underworld.

It wasn't until he met Chen Shi and the Grand Sacrificer that he regained a portion of his sanity and settled in the Divine Capital, hence holding great respect for Chen Shi and the Grand Sacrificer.

"Grand Sacrificer, just now, Your Majesty's Void Great Realm enveloped the Divine Capital. The evil qi on us suddenly vanished, and we reverted from Evil Spirits back to humans."

Tianyou Heavenly Master said, "They believe that this world doesn't necessarily have to undergo Demon Transformation; there may be other possibilities. Thus, they left the city to follow Your Majesty."

The Grand Sacrificer's heart sank. Chen Shi's earlier objective wasn't purely to spar with him, showing him that he was no longer ordinary. There might be another purpose, which was to demonstrate that Chen Shi could completely dismantle the Divine Capital, stripping away all his power!

"Friend Tianyou, why didn't you leave?" the Grand Sacrificer inquired.

Tianyou Heavenly Master, with a respectful demeanor, said, "This is the Divine Capital, where Your Majesty is the Divine Emperor. Following Your Majesty, there's no need to leave the Divine Capital. Moreover, Grand Sacrificer, you are the core of the Divine Capital. As for the dispersal of evil qi, it is merely temporary. Unless the Outer Heaven True God is removed, the evil qi will persist. The only way to eliminate the Outer Heaven True God is through the Demonization of the True God. Eventually, those friends who left will realize this and return to the Divine Capital."

The Grand Sacrificer was pleased, "You have thought it through, friend."

Tianyou Heavenly Master hesitated momentarily, "Then, when can the Outer Heaven True God be demonized? If there are no results in the short term, we may lose people's hearts, and those friends might also leave the Divine Capital."

The Grand Sacrificer smiled, "In no more than three days, the Outer Heaven True God will be demonized! This world will be transformed by the demonized True God, turning into a pure land belonging to us, the Divine Race!"

As he spoke, a slight tremor ran through his heart, "Chen Shi is disrupting the minds in the Divine Capital, perhaps forcing me to assist Chu Feng in refining the Taiqing Purple Qi and demonizing the True God within three days!"

He felt as though he was being toyed with by Chen Shi, a feeling of humiliation and frustration he hadn't experienced in those days when Chen Shi was threatened by him!

The Chen Shi who was previously coerced, submissive, and demonized, probably no longer existed. Replacing him was a formidable Chen Shi, with wisdom and unmatched strength!

"No matter what, I cannot lose the hearts of the people in the Divine Capital! But then, what is Chen Shi's intent in forcing me to demonize the Outer Heaven True God?" His confusion deepened.

The Grand Sacrificer hastily returned to the residence, called for Chu Feng, and immediately opened the Jade Box to refine a wisp of Taiqing Purple Qi. Outside the residence, Tianyou Heavenly Master left, quickly blocked by a monk and a Daoist.

Dao Chengzi transmitted a message, "Brother Tianyou, what did you say to the Grand Sacrificer?"

Tianyou Heavenly Master replied, "I told him that the reason I stayed is because the Demonization of the True God is the only path. He believed it."

Monk Hui Kong couldn't help but ask, "Two friends, might the Grand Sacrificer discover that he's already been sidelined in the Divine Capital?"

Dao Chengzi hesitated for a moment before saying, "Compared to becoming demons, we prefer to revert to humans. Your Majesty exhibiting such ability naturally attracts disasters and calamities to follow him."

Monk Hui Kong said, "But those who remain are mostly already loyal to Your Majesty."

Tianyou Heavenly Master said, "The Grand Sacrificer still has followers... Silence, Song Yi is here!"

Confucian Song Yi walked over, looked at the three, and suddenly said, "Although you haven't left, you've betrayed the Grand Sacrificer, plotting against him, isn't that right? You've been exposed!"

The three were terrified and about to strike him down when Confucian Song Yi laughed, "But if you take me with you, I won't report you!"

The three almost struck him down but, upon hearing this, quietly dispersed their Divine Skills. Dao Chengzi said, "Why as a merchant do you also wish to betray the Grand Sacrificer?"

Song Yi replied, "If the Grand Sacrificer's plan succeeds, merchants would only become members of the Ghost Clan, no different from the current Ghost Clan. But if Your Majesty succeeds, the Ghost Clan can revert back to humans. Which is lighter, which is heavier, which is right, and which is wrong; I, Song, can make my own judgments."

"Very well, you can join us!"

Not long after leaving the Divine Capital, Chen Shi suddenly laughed, "Gentlemen, why do you follow me? You are disasters and calamities, and cannot return to the Mortal World."

Many strange figures emerged from behind him; there were monks, Daoists, Confucians, and some were evidently Independents.

At the forefront was Dan Chengzi, who once hid in the Sea of Consciousness Abyss of Chen Shi. He stepped forward and bowed, "Your Majesty, we were astounded by Your Majesty's Void Great Realm, viewing it as the righteous path, and thus decided to follow."

These monks, Confucians, and Daoists were mostly elders from the Six Great Holy Lands, as well as some Independents presumed long dead. Having cultivated to deep realms, they began Evil Transformation before Harmonization, forcing them to hide in the underworld. Back then, they followed Chen Shi and the Grand Sacrificer, creating the Divine Capital because Chen Shi could demonize the Outer Heaven True God, transforming the entire West Bull New Continent into the Demon Path World, solving their evil transformation issues.

But now, with Chen Shi revealing another side of refining Demon Qi and Evil Qi, restoring the natural order, they immediately abandoned the Grand Sacrificer to follow Chen Shi.

Chen Shi bowed and smiled, "Gentlemen, you are all seniors, outstanding among the Independents. With your assistance, great things can be achieved! However, entering the Mortal World will cause disasters; please be patient and wait for good news at Houde Palace."

The various disasters returned the courtesy.

Chen Shi's mind shifted, having already returned from the underworld to the Mortal World.

He rode the wind, soon arriving outside Yonghe Palace in the Imperial City. Chen Yindou, Creation Little Five, Wu Qi, Yang Bi, Li Tianqing, and Little Dun Fairy were already waiting in front of the hall. Zhong Wuwang had the carriage ready, standing by its side.

Chen Shi descended obliquely, smiling, "Let's set off for Despair Slope!"